My Short Essay about the Philippines

Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do you really think the
corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem
is the lack of love for the Philippines.
Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After
the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start
from scratch because entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no natural
resources.
Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy
Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My
father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still
very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because
Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism.
Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country.
Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism.
40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea. He tried to
borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a foreign
investment because the economic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three
factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they could
send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience.
In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundreds of Koreans in
Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw the President
Park. They asked him, "President, when can we be well off?" That was the only question
everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be
well off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong
impression on them and lent money to Korea. So, President Park was able to build many
factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart.
Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help developing
country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small
salary, they did their best for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in well-off
country.
My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped
people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic
Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we must
love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood. Have you cried for the
Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of
so many poor people.
I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners
who do not have any love for their country. They go to Mass and work for the Church. They pray
every day.
However, they do not love the Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum-
security compound, and both said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are
released from the prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never
come back to the Philippines.
Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with
our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their
employees fairly, so that employees could buy what they needed and saved money for the future
and their children.
When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest. However, when
I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many
unbelievable situations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them every
day. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people
here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed. My parents came
to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer
than the present Philippines when they were young. They are so sorry that there are so many
beggars and street kids. When we went to Pagsanjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because
it would be fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat ride. They said that they
would not take the boat again because they sympathized with the boatmen, for the boatmen were
very poor and had a small frame. Most people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But my parents did
not enjoy it because of love for them.
My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young told me
that if we just go to Mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should
come with action. She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because
all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their
neighborhood and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off.
I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change
the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a small
scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open to love. Let us put away our prejudices
and look at our worries with our new eyes.
 I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love because it makes changes
possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts, and relationships. It changes the
world. Please love your neighborhood and country. Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to
others we do to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned.
There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines.
Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God
also will be very happy if you love others. That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.

Bibliography
Kim, J. (2010). My short essay about the Philippines. (J. Miguel, Ed.) Retrieved September
2020, from PATRIA: Philippines, at the recovery of our inherited archipelago:
http://jmgpatria.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-short-essay-about-philippines-by.html